It would even be better than electing Obama as President of the United States.

Of course, this isn’t Holland, and the 50% goal is as achievable as 100%.

The authors of the study don’t offer policy prescriptions that would make Wisconsinites and others in the Midwest suddenly get on their bikes and ride 50% of the time for short trips. They only point it is out that it’s possible if we become more like the Netherlands. No wonder Democrats are in love with windmills.

They do let the cat out of the bag by letting us know that converting car lanes to bicycle lanes can cost as much as $50,000 per city block. Portland, OR, spent $10,000 per block on a ten-block stretch of city streets to close a lane to cars and open it to two-way bicycle traffic. The city of Chicago, in the fiscally unsound state of Illinois, just spent $140,000 to make a bike lane on four city blocks, including a bridge.

But the authors are hopeful that cities in the Midwest can become more like their Dutch counterparts because some cities are already “bicycle friendly,” including Milwaukee. Part of being bicycle friendly is making the roadways safer for bicyclists, measured in the mortality rate of bicyclists. If Milwaukee builds a lane across the Hoan Bridge that “friendly” rating might go down.

Milwaukee recently committed to a plan to become even more bicycle friendly. They are going to spend $11.3 million over the next ten years to create more bicycle lanes, and that does not even include land acquisition. The city’s goal is for a bicycle to be used for 5% of all trips less than five miles by 2020.

I guess I’m one of the 50%, but that figure does sound high. I don’t see many others doing short errands on their bikes. Riding a bike for short trips and enjoyment is excellent exercise. Of course, I live in an urban area where there are restaurants, shoppes, school, and grocery stores are nearby. Traffic is not much of an issue.

I do agree that a bike path on the Hoan is not a good use of resources. Years ago there was a hike/bike ride over the Hoan. At that time I was in good shape and biked for recreation much more than I do now. For even a then experienced rider like myself the climb up was difficult. I can’t imagine the proposed Hoan bike path being used regularly by commuters.